Method of detecting p53-specific antibodies

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method of detecting p53-specific antibodies in body fluids wherein support-bound p53 and/or support-bound fragments thereof comprising binding regions for p53-specific antibodies are incubated with body fluids and the specific antibodies (a) bound to p53 and/or said fragments are allowed to react 
     with labelled antibodies (b) directed against antibodies (a), or 
     with unlabelled antibodies (b) while the latter are allowed to react with labelled antibodies (c) directed against antibodies (b), with the labelling being non-radioactive in either case. 
     The invention further relates to a kit useful therefor. Also, the invention relates to p53 fragments and DNA sequences coding for them, said fragments comprising binding regions for p53-specific antibodies, as well as to methods of preparing them.

The invention relates to a method of detecting p53-specific antibodies in body fluids. It further relates to a kit useful therefor. Also, the invention relates to p53 fragments and DNA sequences coding for them, said fragments comprising binding regions for p53-specific antibodies, as well as to methods of preparing them.

Eukaryotic cells are known to express a protein identified as p53 (p53). This protein is known in terms of its primary structure and comprises 393 amino acids (see Lamb, P. and Crawford, L. V., Mol. Cell. Biol., Vol. 6 (1986), 1379-1386). Increased expression of p53 is found in many tumor diseases. This may be accompanied by the presence of specific anti-p53 antibodies. A variety of methods for the detection of such antibodies have been reported. For instance, p53-containing cell extracts are radioactively labelled in vivo and immunoprecipitated with sara from patients (see de Fromentel, C.C. et al., Int. J. Cancer 39 (1987), 185-189). Also, anti-p53 antibodies are coated on supports where p53 is adsorbed from cell extracts and added to sera from patients. Bound anti-p53 antibodies are detected with iodine-coupled protein A (see Crawford, L. V. et al., Mol. Biol. Med. 2 (1984), 261-272).

In those methods of detection radioactive substances are employed. This means higher safety risk and thus limited utility, especially in hospitals. Further, as the in vivo labelling of cells is expensive and requires extensive equipment, this method is useful only to a limited extent in large-scale, serial experiments. Also, the use of cell extracts frequently leads to unspecific antibody binding.

Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to provide a method of detecting p53-specific antibodies that does not involve the aforementioned drawbacks.

In accordance with the invention, this object is achieved by a method in which support-bound p53 and/or support-bound fragments thereof comprising binding regions for p53-specific antibodies are incubated with body fluids and the specific antibodies (a) bound to p53 and/or fragments thereof are allowed to react

with labelled antibodies (b) directed against antibodies (a), or

with unlabelled antibodies (b) while the latter are allowed to react with labelled antibodies (c) directed against antibodies (b), with the labelling being non-radioactive in either case.

The term "p53" includes a p53 protein comprising a wild-type sequence. Such a protein can be isolated from cells such as HepG2 (see Knowles, B. et al., Science 209 (1990), 497-499). p53 may also have a sequence other than one of the wild type. Such a sequence may include additions, deletions and/or substitutions of one or more amino acids. Further, p53 may be part of a fusion protein. Such a protein, like any other p53, can be isolated from cells expressing said protein after genetic engineering. Such cells include both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Examples of the former include E. coli strains such as BL21 (see Studier, F. W. et al., Methods in Enzymology 185 (1990), 60-89), while the latter are exemplified especially by mammal, yeast and insect cells. Genetic engineering includes conventional methods known in the art whereby nucleic acids having particular sequences are prepared, inserted in cells and expressed. Anybody skilled in the art is aware of the materials such as vectors and conditions useful in those methods (see, egg., Maniatis, T. et al., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1982).

According to the invention, a p53 cDNA from HepG2 cells (see above) is subjected to reverse transcriptase in a conventional manner and amplified in a common PCR process. The cDNA is compared to published data (egg., EMBL gene library) in terms of its sequence and inserted in the known vector pet 3d to give the recombinant vector pet 92/2. This vector is transformed to the bacterial strain BL21 (see above) to express p53. p53 induction is achieved by adding IPTG. The bacteria are sedimented and subjected to lysozyme and DNase I treatment after freezing and thawing. The lysates are incubated with urea solutions having different concentrations, and p53 is released after centrifugation and obtained in pure form by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by electroelution. Anybody skilled in the art is aware of the above methods as well as the materials and conditions necessary therefor.

In accordance with the invention, there are provided p53 fragments containing binding regions for p53-specific antibodies. Such fragments will hereinafter be referred to as p53 ABBR fragments. Preferably, the p53 ABBER fragments comprise amino acids 1-241, 40-349, 40-393, 66-241, 66-393, 237-349, and 237-393 as well as 9-33, 37-52, and 368-386 of p53 (corresponding to SEQ ID NOS 11-20).

Several methods can be used to produce p53 ABBR fragments. Of them, one method has turned out to be quite favorable. It comprises constructing fragments at locations spread all over the entire length of p53, with at least two fragments each comprising an overlapping region, allowing said fragments to react with a p53-specific antibody, identifying the overlapping region bound by the antibody to provide the p53 ABBR fragment, as well as optionally using said fragment as a basis to repeat the above cycle one or more times.

This method starts out by using a p53 CDNA obtained from HepG2 cells (see above). Based thereon, DNA fragments at locations spread over the entire length of the cDNA are amplified in a common PCR process, with at least two fragments each comprising an overlapping region. The amplified DNA fragments are inserted in pet 3d and expressed in the bacterial strain BL21 after transformation and IPTG induction, as described above. The resulting p53 fragments are isolated and subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, as described above for p53. This is followed by Western blot analysis using labelled, commonly available p53-specific antibodies, e.g., Pab 240 for binding to the p53 fragments. The binding region of the antibody is assigned to the overlapping region by binding one of said antibodies to two p53 fragments comprising an overlapping region. This region provides the fragment identified as p53 ABBR. To do this, a common PCR process is used, for example. In using the p53 ABBR fragment, the above cycle can be repeated one or more times to further limit the binding region of the p53-specific antibody. Said binding region can be limited to a few amino acids. Short p53 fragments that might be necessary for this can be prepared synthetically. Anybody skilled in the art is aware of the above methods as well as the materials and conditions necessary to carry them out.

In accordance with the invention, there are also provided the DNA sequences coding for p53 ABBR fragments. Preferably, such DNA sequences comprise the nucleotides coding for amino acids 1-241, 40-349, 40-393, 66-241, 66-393, 237-349, and 237-393 as well as 9-33, 37-52, and 368-386 of p53 (corresponding to SEQ ID NOS 21-30).

In accordance with the invention, p53 and/or p53 ABBR fragments are bound to support material. of course, it is also possible to bind thereto a p53 ABBR fragment individually or in combination with p53. The support material includes any material useful in binding proteins, especially microtiter plates, tubes, micropellets, or slides. In the case of very small p53 ABBR fragments, especially peptides, it is advisable to bind the protein to the support material via conventional carriers, e.g., BSA. Such binding as well as one without any support can be achieved by using conventional methods. According to the invention, microtiter plates are used as supports. p53 and/or p53 ABBR fragments are incorporated in carbonate buffers, diluted to different concentrations and poured into the wells of microtiter plates. After incubation overnight at 4° C., several washings are performed in physiological buffer. The binding of p53 and/or p53 ABBR fragments is stable.

In accordance with the invention, bound p53 and/or bound p53 ABBR fragments are incubated with body fluids. Such body fluids include any fluids obtained from an animal body, particularly from mammals, and most particularly from a human body. The fluids preferably comprise serum, lymph, saliva and urine. They further include fluids that can be isolated from solid tissue, such as lungs, brain and bone marrow, as well as from tumors, such as colorectal carcinomas and hepatocell carcinomas. Incubation is performed by using conventional methods. According to the invention, sera from patients are diluted to different concentrations and added to the bound p53 and/or bound p53 ABBR fragments in the microtiter plate. After incubation for one hour at 37 c, several washings are performed in physiological buffer. The binding of specific anti-p53 antibodies is stable.

In accordance with the invention, such bound antibodies (hereinafter referred to as antibodies (a)) are reacted

with labelled antibodies (b) directed against antibodies (a), or

with unlabelled antibodies (b) while the latter is reacted with labelled antibodies (c) directed against antibodies (b).

In either case the labelling is non-radioactive. Rather, other conventional labels are used. Useful labels include especially fluorescent dyes such as, e.g., fluorescein isothiocyanate, and enzymes such as alkaline phosphatase or peroxidase. The amplifier system may be a biotin/streptavidine complex. The labels are commonly available. Conjugation with antibodies (b) or (c) is performed as prescribed by the manufacturer. Prelabelled antibodies (b) and (c) are also commonly available.

The choice of appropriate antibodies (b), either labelled or unlabelled, depends on what animal, or what type of animal, the used body fluid comes from. If, for example, the fluid comes from a human body, antibodies (b) will be those directed against human immunoglobulin. Analogously, if antibodies (c) are used in addition, these will be chosen in relation to the animal, or type of animal, antibodies (b) come from. The choice of appropriate antibodies is known to those skilled in the art and can be made readily.

Bound antibodies (a) can be reacted with labelled antibodies (b) or with unlabelled antibodies (b) and then with labelled antibodies (c) in a conventional manner. In accordance with the invention, their reaction with antibodies (b) in both alternatives proceeds within one hour at 37° C. After several washings, a substrate solution corresponding to the label is added in the first alternative to initiate the detection reaction. This is done as prescribed by the manufacturer. In the second alternative antibodies (c) are added after the washings.

Their reaction and the initiation of the detection reaction proceed analogously.

The method of the invention exhibits high sensitivity. Such sensitivity is particularly high where antibodies (c) are used in addition. Furthermore, the present method can be employed rapidly in any laboratory. It is not necessary to take any precautionary measures. The method of the invention is therefore particularly useful in conducting large-scale, serial experiments.

In accordance with the invention, there is also provided a kit useful in carrying out the above methods. Said kit contains

support-bound p53 and/or support-bound p53 ABBR fragments and labelled antibodies (b) as well as conventional buffers for washing and a substrate corresponding to the label, or

support-bound p53 and/or support-bound p53 ABBR fragments, unlabelled antibodies (b) and labelled antibodies (c) as well as conventional buffers for washing and a substrate corresponding to the label.

In either case the labelling is non-radioactive. The observations made above regarding the method of the invention equally apply to the labelling as well as to the other components of the kit.

SEQ ID NOs 16-22 show the amino acid sequences of preferred p53 ABBR fragments.

SEQ ID NOs 23-30 show the DNA sequences of the p53 ABBR fragments listed on SEQ ID NOs 16-22.

The present invention will be further illustrated by the following examples.

EXAMPLE 1 Expression of p53 and His-p53 fusion protein

(A) Expression of D53

A p53 CDNA from the HepG2 cell line (see above) was subjected to reverse transcriptase using a hexamer random primer and amplified in a common PCR process using the "Fo" and "R₁₁ " oligo primers ("Fo" sequence SEQ ID NO: 1: GCA TGG ATC CGA ATT CTG CCT TCC GGG TCA CTG C; "R₁₁ " SEQ ID NO: 2: GGT ACC CGG GGA TCC TGG GTG CTT CTG ACG). The amplified sequence was compared to published data (EMBL gene library) and cloned into vector pet3d in the bacterial strain HMS 174 via restriction enzyme sites at the initiation codon of p53 (NcoI) and in the R₁₁ primer (BamHI) to give the entire coding region. The resulting vector pet 92/2 was transformed into the bacterial strain BL21 (see above) to express p53. After cultivation of the bacteria at 37° C. to obtain an optical density of 0.6 (600 nm) in an LB medium containing 100 μg/ml ampicillin and 30 μg/ml chloroamphenicol, a three-hour induction of p53 at 30° C. was performed using 2mM IPTC.

(B) Expression of His-P53 fusion protein

A p53 cDNA from the HepG2 cell line (see above) was subjected to reverse transcriptase and amplified by PCR using the "Fp53-B" and "His-Rp53" oligo primers ("Fp53" sequence: SEQ ID NO: 3 CGC GGA TCC ATG GAG GAG CCG CAG TCA G; "His-Rp53" SEQ ID NO: 4: CGC GGA TCC TCA ATG GTG ATG GTG ATG GTG GTC TGA GTC AGG CCC TTC TG). The amplified sequence was cloned into the known expression vector pQE-8, that had been opened using BamHI. Said p53 protein, which is linked to six histidines at either end, is expressed in the bacterial strain E. coli SG13009 (see Gottesmann, S. et al., J. Bacteriol. 148 (1981), 265-273). After cultivation of the bacteria at 37° C. to obtain an optical density of 0.6 in an LB medium containing 100 μg/ml ampicillin and 25 μg/ml canamycin, a six-hour induction of His-p53 fusion protein at 37° C. was performed using 1 mM IPTG.

EXAMPLE 2 Isolation and purification of p53 and His-p53 fusion protein

(A) Isolation and purification of P53

After p53 induction, 400 ml of bacterial culture of Example 1 (A) were sedimented by centrifugation for 10 minutes at 500 g, rinsed in 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 100 mm NaCl and again centrifuged. After freezing and thawing, the sediment was resuspended in 1.6 ml of lysis buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 10% sucrose). To this lysozyme (final conc. 2 mg/ml) and 0.5 M EDTA (final conc. 50 EM) were successively added. After 20-minute incubation on ice, MgCl₂ (final conc. 80 mM) and DNAse I (250 μg) was added, followed by incubation for 10 minutes at room temperature (final volume 6.5 ml). To this 10 μl of 0.1 M PMSF were added, and the mixture was centrifuged for 15 minutes at 10,000 g and 4° C. This centrifugation step was repeated three times, each after resuspending the sediment and 10-minute incubation in 1 M, 3 M and 7 M urea, respectively, with PMSF (0.1 M, 10 μl). The supernatant of the last centrifugation step was further purified as follows: After gel electrophoresis in a 10% polyacrylamide gel, excision of the desired protein band and overnight electroelution at 4° C. in 25 mM Tris-HCl, 0.2 M glycine, 0.5% SDS, pH 8.8, in a commonly available biotrap elution chamber, p53 was obtained in pure form.

(B) Isolation and 12purification of His-p53 fusion protein

250 ml of bacterial culture of Example 1 (B) were sedimented after induction of the His-p53 fusion protein and washed once in 40 ml of PBS. 1 g of bacterial pellet each was subjected to sonification in 3 ml of solution A for 1 min. and then stirred on a mnagnetic stirrer at medium speed and RT for 8-12 hrs. The resulting suspension was again sedimented at 15,000 rpm and RT for 30 mins. 2-6 ml of the resulting supernatant were placed on a conventional nickel chelate chromatography column (Ni-NTA resin). The column material had been pre-washed with 3 column volumes of solution A (see above). Upon charging the bacterial extract, the column was washed successively with solutions A to F, viz. with 2-3 column volumes of the respective solution, until no protein could be eluted any more. The protein content of the collected fractions was determined photometrically by extinction measurement at 280 nm, with 1 OD corresponding to about 1 mg of protein/ml. The His-p53 fusion protein was contained in the fractions after elution with solution D or E, usually showing only a very small content of bacterial protein. To remove this content, the eluted protein could again be bound to the Ni NTA resin column by adjusting the pH of the combined fragments with the main portion of the protein to be purified to pH 8.0 and by placing these again on the column. The subsequent elution was performed with solutions A to F, as described above. The purity and quality of the eluted His-p53 fusion protein was examined by SDS PAGE.

Ingredients of the solutions used:

Solution A: 6 M guanidinium hydrochloride, 0.1 M NaH₂ PO₄, 10 mM β-mercaptoethanol, 0.01 M TrisHCl, pH 8.0

Solution B: 8 M urea, 0.1 M NaH₂ PO₄, 0.01 M TrigHCl, pH 8.0

Solution C: 8 M urea, 0.1 M NaH₂ PO₄, 0.01 M TrisHCl, pH 6.3

Solution D: 8 M urea, 0.1 M NaH₂ PO₄, 0.01 M TrisHCl, pH 5.9

Solution E: 8 M urea, 0.1 M NaH₂ PO₄, 0.01 M TrisHCl, pH 4.5

Solution F: 6 M guanidinium hydrochloride, 0.2 M acetic acid

The above method in (B) is characterized by an extremely rapid and efficient purification of the expressed protein.

EXAMPLE 3 Preparation of p53-ABBR and His-p53 ABBR fragments

(A) preparation of a p53-ABBER-fragment

Two overlapping DNA sequences from the CDNA obtained from the Hep G2 cell line (see above) were amplified in a common PCR process using the oligo primer pairs "Fp 53-B"/"Rp 53-55" and "Fp 53-30"/"Rp 53-70". One DNA sequence coded for a p53 fragment of amino acids 1-55 while the other coded for a p53 fragment of amino acids 30-70. The sequences of the oligo primers used were the following:

"Fp 53-B" SEQ ID NO: 5

CGCGGATCCATGGAGGAGCCGCAGTCAG, "Rp 53-55" SEQ ID NO: 6

CGCGGATCCTCAAGTGAACCATTGTTCAATATCGTCCG, "Fp 53-30" SEQ ID NO: 7

CGCGGATCCAACGTTCTGTCCCCCTTGCCG, "Rp 53-70" SEQ ID NO: 8

CGCGGATCCTCAAGCAGCCTCTGGCATTCTGGG SEQ ID NO: 9.

The amplified sequences were compared to published data (EMBL gene library) and cloned into the vector pet 3 d (see above) via the restriction enzyme site BamHI. The sequences were expressed in the bacterial strain BL21 (see above) after transformation and IPTG induction. The expressed sequences (p53 fragments) were isolated and subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, as described in Example 2 (A) for p53. This was followed by conventional Western blot analysis using a commonly available p53-specific antibody for binding to the p53 fragments. Said antibody bound to both overlapping p53 fragments. The overlapping region, i.e., amino acids 30-55 was considered to be the binding region of the antibody Said binding region was further limited in the manner shown above by using two synthetic, overlapping p53 peptides. Thus, it was possible to limit the binding region of the p53-specific antibody to the p53 ABBR fragment of amino acids 37-52.

(B) Preparation of a His-p53 ABBR fragment

Two overlapping DNA sequences from the cDNA obtained from the Hep G2 cell line (see above) were amplified in a common PCR process using the oligo primer pairs "Pp 53-B"/"Rp 53-55-His" and "Fp 53-30"/"Rp 53-70-His". One DNA sequence coded for a p53 fragment of amino acids 1-55 while the other coded for a p53 fragment of amino acids 30-70 (see (A) above). The sequences of the oligo primers used were the following: "Fp 53-B" (see (A) above), "Rp 53-55-His" SEQ ID NO: 9

CGCGGATCCTCAATGGTGATGGTGATGGTGAGTGAACCATTGTTCAATATCGTCCG, "Fp 53-30"(see (A) above), "Rp 53-70-His SEQ ID NO: 10

CGCGGATCCTCAATGGTGATGGTGATGGTGAGCAGCCTCTGGCATTCTGGG.

The amplified sequences were compared to published data (EMBL gene library) and cloned into the vector pQE-8 (see above) via the restriction enzyme site BamHI. The sequences were expressed in the bacterial strain E. coli SG 13009 (see above) after transformation and IPTG induction. The expressed sequences (His-p53 fragments) were isolated and subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, as described in Example 2 (B) for His-p53. This was followed by conventional Western blot analysis using a commonly available p53-specific antibody for binding to the His-p53 fragments. Said antibody bound to both overlapping p53 fragments. As described in (A) above, the overlapping region, i.e., amino acids 30-55 was considered to be the binding region of the antibody. As described in (A) above, said binding region was further limited to amino acids 37-52 in the manner shown above.

EXAMPLE 4 Detection by p53 of specific p53 antibodies in the serum from patients

To perform an ELISA, p53 of Example 2 (A) was incorporated in 0.1 M carbonate buffer (sodium carbonate/sodium hydrogen carbonate, pH 9.6). To coat a 96-well microtiter plate, 100 μl of carbonate buffer were each applied in rows with 0.2 ng, 0.15 ng, 0.1 ng, 0.05 ng, 0.01 ng and 0.005 ng of p53 and using 1% BSA solution as the control. After incubation overnight at 4° C., ten short washings were performed using PBS. A serum from a patient suffering from a hepatocellular carcinoma diluted at 1:100, 1:250, 1:500 and 1:1000 (dilution in 500 mg of BGG/l, 100 mg of BSA/l, 0.05% Tween-20) was added to each of the different p53 concentrations and the BSA control and incubated for one hour at 37° C. ("chessboard titration"). This was followed by five washings with PBS containing 0.05% Tween-20. A commonly available peroxidase-coupled goat anti-human antibody was diluted as prescribed by the manufacturer (100 mg/l of BGG, 500 mg/l of BSA, 0.05% Tween-20). This was followed by three washings with PBS. The peroxidase detection reaction was performed with OPD initiation solution. To do this, a 0.1 M Na₂ HPO₄ solution with 0.1 M KH₂ PO₄ was adjusted to pH 6.0. To 20 ml of this buffer 30 mg of O-phenylene diamine dihydrochloride (OPD) were dissolved and 35 μl of 35% H₂ O₂ were added shortly before application. 150 μl of initiation solution were added per well. After five-minute incubation the reaction was terminated with 75 μl 4 M H₂ SO₄ and the color intensity was determined photometrically at 492 nm. Absorption values more than twice the BSA control were considered to be a positive reaction.

Table 1 shows the data of a thus performed ELISA compared to the determination of specific antibodies by the immunoblot technique. The fact that the two methods were almost identical demonstrates that the anti-p53 ELISA is suitable for serial testing of clinical material. Further, the ELISA shows greater sensitivity than the immunoblot technique, thus emphasizing the suitability of the ELISA as the primary testing procedure.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Detection of specific p53-antibodies in sera                                    from patients suffering from a hepatocellular                                  carcinoma by immunoblot and ELISA techniques                                   using p53                                                                       Serum code:                                                                              5      9   10  11  13   14  15  18  28  29                                                     38                                                 ______________________________________                                         Immunoblot:                                                                            -      +     -   -   -    -   +   +   -   +   +                          ELISA: +- + +- - +- + - + - + +                                              ______________________________________                                          Legend:                                                                        Immunoblot:                                                                    +: a visible band at the level of a protein having a molecular weight of       53 kD at a serum dilution of 1:15, incubation with alkaline                    phosphatasecoupled, humanspecific goat antibody (1:5000) and alkaline          phosphatase detection reaction.                                                -: no visible signal                                                           ELISA:                                                                         -: absorption value below twice the BSA control value                          +-: absorption value around twice the BSA control value                        +: absorption value at least twice the BSA control value in all dilutions

    __________________________________________________________________________     #             SEQUENCE LISTING                                                    - -  - - (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:                                              - -    (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 30                                           - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 34 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid                                          (A) DESCRIPTION: /desc - #= "Synthetic primer"                        - -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:                                - - GCATGGATCC GAATTCTGCC TTCCGGGTCA CTGC       - #                  -      #        34                                                                      - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 30 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid                                          (A) DESCRIPTION: /desc - #= "Synthetic primer"                        - -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:                                - - GGTACCCGGG GATCCTGGGT GCTTCTGACG         - #                  - #                30                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 28 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid                                          (A) DESCRIPTION: /desc - #= "Synthetic primer"                        - -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3:                                - - CGCGGATCCA TGGAGGAGCC GCAGTCAG         - #                  - #                  28                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 50 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid                                          (A) DESCRIPTION: /desc - #= "Synthetic primer"                        - -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4:                                - - CGCGGATCCT CAATGGTGAT GGTGATGGTG GTCTGAGTCA GGCCCTTCTG  - #                   50                                                                          - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:5:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 28 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid                                          (A) DESCRIPTION: /desc - #= "Synthetic primer"                        - -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:5:                                - - CGCGGATCCA TGGAGGAGCC GCAGTCAG         - #                  - #                  28                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:6:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 38 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid                                          (A) DESCRIPTION: /desc - #= "Synthetic primer"                        - -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:6:                                - - CGCGGATCCT CAAGTGAACC ATTGTTCAAT ATCGTCCG      - #                       - #     38                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:7:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 30 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid                                          (A) DESCRIPTION: /desc - #= "Synthetic primer"                        - -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:7:                                - - CGCGGATCCA ACGTTCTGTC CCCCTTGCCG         - #                  - #                30                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:8:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 33 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid                                          (A) DESCRIPTION: /desc - #= "Synthetic primer"                        - -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:8:                                - - CGCGGATCCT CAAGCAGCCT CTGGCATTCT GGG       - #                  - #              33                                                                       - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:9:                                      - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 56 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid                                          (A) DESCRIPTION: /desc - #= "Synthetic primer"                        - -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:9:                                - - CGCGGATCCT CAATGGTGAT GGTGATGGTG AGTGAACCAT TGTTCAATAT CG - #TCCG              56                                                                         - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:10:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 51 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: other nucleic acid                                          (A) DESCRIPTION: /desc - #= "Synthetic primer"                        - -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:10:                               - - CGCGGATCCT CAATGGTGAT GGTGATGGTG AGCAGCCTCT GGCATTCTGG G - #                  51                                                                          - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:11:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 241 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS:                                                              (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:11:                               - - Met Glu Glu Pro Gln Ser Asp Pro Ser Val Gl - #u Pro Pro Leu Ser Gln       1               5   - #                10  - #                15                - - Glu Thr Phe Ser Asp Leu Trp Lys Leu Leu Pr - #o Glu Asn Asn Val Leu                   20      - #            25      - #            30                    - - Ser Pro Leu Pro Ser Gln Ala Met Asp Asp Le - #u Met Leu Ser Pro Asp               35          - #        40          - #        45                        - - Asp Ile Glu Gln Trp Phe Thr Glu Asp Pro Gl - #y Pro Asp Glu Ala Pro           50              - #    55              - #    60                            - - Arg Met Pro Glu Ala Ala Pro Pro Val Ala Pr - #o Ala Pro Ala Ala Pro       65                  - #70                  - #75                  - #80         - - Thr Pro Ala Ala Pro Ala Pro Ala Pro Ser Tr - #p Pro Leu Ser Ser Ser                       85  - #                90  - #                95                - - Val Pro Ser Gln Lys Thr Tyr Gln Gly Ser Ty - #r Gly Phe Arg Leu Gly                   100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - Phe Leu His Ser Gly Thr Ala Lys Ser Val Th - #r Cys Thr Tyr Ser Pro               115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - Ala Leu Asn Lys Met Phe Cys Gln Leu Ala Ly - #s Thr Cys Pro Val Gln           130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - Leu Trp Val Asp Ser Thr Pro Pro Pro Gly Th - #r Arg Val Arg Ala Met       145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - Ala Ile Tyr Lys Gln Ser Gln His Met Thr Gl - #u Val Val Arg Arg         Cys                                                                                              165  - #               170  - #               175              - - Pro His His Glu Arg Cys Ser Asp Ser Asp Gl - #y Leu Ala Pro Pro Gln                   180      - #           185      - #           190                   - - His Leu Ile Arg Val Glu Gly Asn Leu Arg Va - #l Glu Tyr Leu Asp Asp               195          - #       200          - #       205                       - - Arg Asn Thr Phe Arg His Ser Val Val Val Pr - #o Tyr Glu Pro Pro Glu           210              - #   215              - #   220                           - - Val Gly Ser Asp Cys Thr Thr Ile His Tyr As - #n Tyr Met Cys Asn Ser       225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -       #40                                                                               - - Ser                                                                        - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:12:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 310 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS:                                                              (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:12:                               - - Met Asp Asp Leu Met Leu Ser Pro Asp Asp Il - #e Glu Gln Trp Phe         Thr                                                                              1               5   - #                10  - #                15               - - Glu Asp Pro Gly Pro Asp Glu Ala Pro Arg Me - #t Pro Glu Ala Ala Pro                   20      - #            25      - #            30                    - - Pro Val Ala Pro Ala Pro Ala Ala Pro Thr Pr - #o Ala Ala Pro Ala Pro               35          - #        40          - #        45                        - - Ala Pro Ser Trp Pro Leu Ser Ser Ser Val Pr - #o Ser Gln Lys Thr Tyr           50              - #    55              - #    60                            - - Gln Gly Ser Tyr Gly Phe Arg Leu Gly Phe Le - #u His Ser Gly Thr Ala       65                  - #70                  - #75                  - #80         - - Lys Ser Val Thr Cys Thr Tyr Ser Pro Ala Le - #u Asn Lys Met Phe Cys                       85  - #                90  - #                95                - - Gln Leu Ala Lys Thr Cys Pro Val Gln Leu Tr - #p Val Asp Ser Thr Pro                   100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - Pro Pro Gly Thr Arg Val Arg Ala Met Ala Il - #e Tyr Lys Gln Ser Gln               115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - His Met Thr Glu Val Val Arg Arg Cys Pro Hi - #s His Glu Arg Cys Ser           130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - Asp Ser Asp Gly Leu Ala Pro Pro Gln His Le - #u Ile Arg Val Glu Gly       145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - Asn Leu Arg Val Glu Tyr Leu Asp Asp Arg As - #n Thr Phe Arg His         Ser                                                                                              165  - #               170  - #               175              - - Val Val Val Pro Tyr Glu Pro Pro Glu Val Gl - #y Ser Asp Cys Thr Thr                   180      - #           185      - #           190                   - - Ile His Tyr Asn Tyr Met Cys Asn Ser Ser Cy - #s Met Gly Gly Met Asn               195          - #       200          - #       205                       - - Arg Arg Pro Ile Leu Thr Ile Ile Thr Leu Gl - #u Asp Ser Ser Gly Asn           210              - #   215              - #   220                           - - Leu Leu Gly Arg Asn Ser Phe Glu Val Arg Va - #l Cys Ala Cys Pro Gly       225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -       #40                                                                               - - Arg Asp Arg Arg Thr Glu Glu Glu Asn Leu Ar - #g Lys Lys Gly Glu         Pro                                                                                              245  - #               250  - #               255              - - His His Glu Leu Pro Pro Gly Ser Thr Lys Ar - #g Ala Leu Pro Asn Asn                   260      - #           265      - #           270                   - - Thr Ser Ser Ser Pro Gln Pro Lys Lys Lys Pr - #o Leu Asp Gly Glu Tyr               275          - #       280          - #       285                       - - Phe Thr Leu Gln Ile Arg Gly Arg Glu Arg Ph - #e Glu Met Phe Arg Glu           290              - #   295              - #   300                           - - Leu Asn Glu Ala Leu Glu                                                   305                 3 - #10                                                     - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:13:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 354 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS:                                                              (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:13:                               - - Met Asp Asp Leu Met Leu Ser Pro Asp Asp Il - #e Glu Gln Trp Phe Thr       1               5   - #                10  - #                15                - - Glu Asp Pro Gly Pro Asp Glu Ala Pro Arg Me - #t Pro Glu Ala Ala Pro                   20      - #            25      - #            30                    - - Pro Val Ala Pro Ala Pro Ala Ala Pro Thr Pr - #o Ala Ala Pro Ala Pro               35          - #        40          - #        45                        - - Ala Pro Ser Trp Pro Leu Ser Ser Ser Val Pr - #o Ser Gln Lys Thr Tyr           50              - #    55              - #    60                            - - Gln Gly Ser Tyr Gly Phe Arg Leu Gly Phe Le - #u His Ser Gly Thr Ala       65                  - #70                  - #75                  - #80         - - Lys Ser Val Thr Cys Thr Tyr Ser Pro Ala Le - #u Asn Lys Met Phe Cys                       85  - #                90  - #                95                - - Gln Leu Ala Lys Thr Cys Pro Val Gln Leu Tr - #p Val Asp Ser Thr Pro                   100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - Pro Pro Gly Thr Arg Val Arg Ala Met Ala Il - #e Tyr Lys Gln Ser Gln               115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - His Met Thr Glu Val Val Arg Arg Cys Pro Hi - #s His Glu Arg Cys Ser           130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - Asp Ser Asp Gly Leu Ala Pro Pro Gln His Le - #u Ile Arg Val Glu Gly       145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - Asn Leu Arg Val Glu Tyr Leu Asp Asp Arg As - #n Thr Phe Arg His         Ser                                                                                              165  - #               170  - #               175              - - Val Val Val Pro Tyr Glu Pro Pro Glu Val Gl - #y Ser Asp Cys Thr Thr                   180      - #           185      - #           190                   - - Ile His Tyr Asn Tyr Met Cys Asn Ser Ser Cy - #s Met Gly Gly Met Asn               195          - #       200          - #       205                       - - Arg Arg Pro Ile Leu Thr Ile Ile Thr Leu Gl - #u Asp Ser Ser Gly Asn           210              - #   215              - #   220                           - - Leu Leu Gly Arg Asn Ser Phe Glu Val Arg Va - #l Cys Ala Cys Pro Gly       225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -       #40                                                                               - - Arg Asp Arg Arg Thr Glu Glu Glu Asn Leu Ar - #g Lys Lys Gly Glu         Pro                                                                                              245  - #               250  - #               255              - - His His Glu Leu Pro Pro Gly Ser Thr Lys Ar - #g Ala Leu Pro Asn Asn                   260      - #           265      - #           270                   - - Thr Ser Ser Ser Pro Gln Pro Lys Lys Lys Pr - #o Leu Asp Gly Glu Tyr               275          - #       280          - #       285                       - - Phe Thr Leu Gln Ile Arg Gly Arg Glu Arg Ph - #e Glu Met Phe Arg Glu           290              - #   295              - #   300                           - - Leu Asn Glu Ala Leu Glu Leu Lys Asp Ala Gl - #n Ala Gly Lys Glu Pro       305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -       #20                                                                               - - Gly Gly Ser Arg Ala His Ser Ser His Leu Ly - #s Ser Lys Lys Gly         Gln                                                                                              325  - #               330  - #               335              - - Ser Thr Ser Arg His Lys Lys Leu Met Phe Ly - #s Thr Glu Gly Pro Asp                   340      - #           345      - #           350                   - - Ser Asp                                                                    - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:14:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 176 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS:                                                              (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:14:                               - - Met Pro Glu Ala Ala Pro Pro Val Ala Pro Al - #a Pro Ala Ala Pro Thr       1               5   - #                10  - #                15                - - Pro Ala Ala Pro Ala Pro Ala Pro Ser Trp Pr - #o Leu Ser Ser Ser Val                   20      - #            25      - #            30                    - - Pro Ser Gln Lys Thr Tyr Gln Gly Ser Tyr Gl - #y Phe Arg Leu Gly Phe               35          - #        40          - #        45                        - - Leu His Ser Gly Thr Ala Lys Ser Val Thr Cy - #s Thr Tyr Ser Pro Ala           50              - #    55              - #    60                            - - Leu Asn Lys Met Phe Cys Gln Leu Ala Lys Th - #r Cys Pro Val Gln Leu       65                  - #70                  - #75                  - #80         - - Trp Val Asp Ser Thr Pro Pro Pro Gly Thr Ar - #g Val Arg Ala Met Ala                       85  - #                90  - #                95                - - Ile Tyr Lys Gln Ser Gln His Met Thr Glu Va - #l Val Arg Arg Cys Pro                   100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - His His Glu Arg Cys Ser Asp Ser Asp Gly Le - #u Ala Pro Pro Gln His               115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - Leu Ile Arg Val Glu Gly Asn Leu Arg Val Gl - #u Tyr Leu Asp Asp Arg           130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - Asn Thr Phe Arg His Ser Val Val Val Pro Ty - #r Glu Pro Pro Glu Val       145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - Gly Ser Asp Cys Thr Thr Ile His Tyr Asn Ty - #r Met Cys Asn Ser         Ser                                                                                              165  - #               170  - #               175              - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:15:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 328 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS:                                                              (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:15:                               - - Met Pro Glu Ala Ala Pro Pro Val Ala Pro Al - #a Pro Ala Ala Pro Thr       1               5   - #                10  - #                15                - - Pro Ala Ala Pro Ala Pro Ala Pro Ser Trp Pr - #o Leu Ser Ser Ser Val                   20      - #            25      - #            30                    - - Pro Ser Gln Lys Thr Tyr Gln Gly Ser Tyr Gl - #y Phe Arg Leu Gly Phe               35          - #        40          - #        45                        - - Leu His Ser Gly Thr Ala Lys Ser Val Thr Cy - #s Thr Tyr Ser Pro Ala           50              - #    55              - #    60                            - - Leu Asn Lys Met Phe Cys Gln Leu Ala Lys Th - #r Cys Pro Val Gln Leu       65                  - #70                  - #75                  - #80         - - Trp Val Asp Ser Thr Pro Pro Pro Gly Thr Ar - #g Val Arg Ala Met Ala                       85  - #                90  - #                95                - - Ile Tyr Lys Gln Ser Gln His Met Thr Glu Va - #l Val Arg Arg Cys Pro                   100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - His His Glu Arg Cys Ser Asp Ser Asp Gly Le - #u Ala Pro Pro Gln His               115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - Leu Ile Arg Val Glu Gly Asn Leu Arg Val Gl - #u Tyr Leu Asp Asp Arg           130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - Asn Thr Phe Arg His Ser Val Val Val Pro Ty - #r Glu Pro Pro Glu Val       145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -       #60                                                                               - - Gly Ser Asp Cys Thr Thr Ile His Tyr Asn Ty - #r Met Cys Asn Ser         Ser                                                                                              165  - #               170  - #               175              - - Cys Met Gly Gly Met Asn Arg Arg Pro Ile Le - #u Thr Ile Ile Thr Leu                   180      - #           185      - #           190                   - - Glu Asp Ser Ser Gly Asn Leu Leu Gly Arg As - #n Ser Phe Glu Val Arg               195          - #       200          - #       205                       - - Val Cys Ala Cys Pro Gly Arg Asp Arg Arg Th - #r Glu Glu Glu Asn Leu           210              - #   215              - #   220                           - - Arg Lys Lys Gly Glu Pro His His Glu Leu Pr - #o Pro Gly Ser Thr Lys       225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -       #40                                                                               - - Arg Ala Leu Pro Asn Asn Thr Ser Ser Ser Pr - #o Gln Pro Lys Lys         Lys                                                                                              245  - #               250  - #               255              - - Pro Leu Asp Gly Glu Tyr Phe Thr Leu Gln Il - #e Arg Gly Arg Glu Arg                   260      - #           265      - #           270                   - - Phe Glu Met Phe Arg Glu Leu Asn Glu Ala Le - #u Glu Leu Lys Asp Ala               275          - #       280          - #       285                       - - Gln Ala Gly Lys Glu Pro Gly Gly Ser Arg Al - #a His Ser Ser His Leu           290              - #   295              - #   300                           - - Lys Ser Lys Lys Gly Gln Ser Thr Ser Arg Hi - #s Lys Lys Leu Met Phe       305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -       #20                                                                               - - Lys Thr Glu Gly Pro Asp Ser Asp                                                           325                                                             - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:16:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 113 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS:                                                              (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:16:                               - - Met Cys Asn Ser Ser Cys Met Gly Gly Met As - #n Arg Arg Pro Ile         Leu                                                                              1               5   - #                10  - #                15               - - Thr Ile Ile Thr Leu Glu Asp Ser Ser Gly As - #n Leu Leu Gly Arg Asn                   20      - #            25      - #            30                    - - Ser Phe Glu Val Arg Val Cys Ala Cys Pro Gl - #y Arg Asp Arg Arg Thr               35          - #        40          - #        45                        - - Glu Glu Glu Asn Leu Arg Lys Lys Gly Glu Pr - #o His His Glu Leu Pro           50              - #    55              - #    60                            - - Pro Gly Ser Thr Lys Arg Ala Leu Pro Asn As - #n Thr Ser Ser Ser Pro       65                  - #70                  - #75                  - #80         - - Gln Pro Lys Lys Lys Pro Leu Asp Gly Glu Ty - #r Phe Thr Leu Gln Ile                       85  - #                90  - #                95                - - Arg Gly Arg Glu Arg Phe Glu Met Phe Arg Gl - #u Leu Asn Glu Ala Leu                   100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - Glu                                                                        - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:17:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 157 amino - #acids                                                 (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS:                                                              (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:17:                               - - Met Cys Asn Ser Ser Cys Met Gly Gly Met As - #n Arg Arg Pro Ile Leu       1               5   - #                10  - #                15                - - Thr Ile Ile Thr Leu Glu Asp Ser Ser Gly As - #n Leu Leu Gly Arg Asn                   20      - #            25      - #            30                    - - Ser Phe Glu Val Arg Val Cys Ala Cys Pro Gl - #y Arg Asp Arg Arg Thr               35          - #        40          - #        45                        - - Glu Glu Glu Asn Leu Arg Lys Lys Gly Glu Pr - #o His His Glu Leu Pro           50              - #    55              - #    60                            - - Pro Gly Ser Thr Lys Arg Ala Leu Pro Asn As - #n Thr Ser Ser Ser Pro       65                  - #70                  - #75                  - #80         - - Gln Pro Lys Lys Lys Pro Leu Asp Gly Glu Ty - #r Phe Thr Leu Gln Ile                       85  - #                90  - #                95                - - Arg Gly Arg Glu Arg Phe Glu Met Phe Arg Gl - #u Leu Asn Glu Ala Leu                   100      - #           105      - #           110                   - - Glu Leu Lys Asp Ala Gln Ala Gly Lys Glu Pr - #o Gly Gly Ser Arg Ala               115          - #       120          - #       125                       - - His Ser Ser His Leu Lys Ser Lys Lys Gly Gl - #n Ser Thr Ser Arg His           130              - #   135              - #   140                           - - Lys Lys Leu Met Phe Lys Thr Glu Gly Pro As - #p Ser Asp                   145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                             - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:18:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 25 amino - #acids                                                  (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS:                                                              (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:18:                               - - Ser Val Glu Pro Pro Leu Ser Gln Glu Thr Ph - #e Ser Asp Leu Trp Lys       1               5   - #                10  - #                15                - - Leu Leu Pro Glu Asn Asn Val Leu Ser                                                   20      - #            25                                           - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:19:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 16 amino - #acids                                                  (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS:                                                              (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:19:                               - - Ser Gln Ala Met Asp Asp Leu Met Leu Ser Pr - #o Asp Asp Ile Glu Gln       1               5   - #                10  - #                15                - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:20:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 19 amino - #acids                                                  (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (C) STRANDEDNESS:                                                              (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                            - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:20:                               - - His Leu Lys Ser Lys Lys Gly Gln Ser Thr Se - #r Arg Met Lys Lys Leu       1               5   - #                10  - #                15                - - Met Phe Lys                                                                - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:21:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 723 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:21:                               - - ATGGAGGAGC CGCAGTCAGA TCCTAGCGTC GAGCCCCCTC TGAGTCAGGA AA -              #CATTTTCA     60                                                                  - - GACCTATGGA AACTACTTCC TGAAAACAAC GTTCTGTCCC CCTTGCCGTC CC -             #AAGCAATG    120                                                                  - - GATGATTTGA TGCTGTCCCC GGACGATATT GAACAATGGT TCACTGAAGA CC -             #CAGGTCCA    180                                                                  - - GATGAAGCTC CCAGAATGCC AGAGGCTGCT CCCCCCGTGG CCCCTGCACC AG -             #CAGCTCCT    240                                                                  - - ACACCGGCGG CCCCTGCACC AGCCCCCTCC TGGCCCCTGT CATCTTCTGT CC -             #CTTCCCAG    300                                                                  - - AAAACCTACC AGGGCAGCTA CGGTTTCCGT CTGGGCTTCT TGCATTCTGG GA -             #CAGCCAAG    360                                                                  - - TCTGTGACTT GCACGTACTC CCCTGCCCTC AACAAGATGT TTTGCCAACT GG -             #CCAAGACC    420                                                                  - - TGCCCTGTGC AGCTGTGGGT TGATTCCACA CCCCCGCCCG GCACCCGCGT CC -             #GCGCCATG    480                                                                  - - GCCATCTACA AGCAGTCACA GCACATGACG GAGGTTGTGA GGCGCTGCCC CC -             #ACCATGAG    540                                                                  - - CGCTGCTCAG ATAGCGATGG TCTGGCCCCT CCTCAGCATC TTATCCGAGT GG -             #AAGGAAAT    600                                                                  - - TTGCGTGTGG AGTATTTGGA TGACAGAAAC ACTTTTCGAC ATAGTGTGGT GG -             #TGCCCTAT    660                                                                  - - GAGCCGCCTG AGGTTGGCTC TGACTGTACC ACCATCCACT ACAACTACAT GT -             #GTAACAGT    720                                                                  - - TCC                  - #                  - #                  - #                 723                                                                   - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:22:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 930 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:22:                               - - ATGGATGATT TGATGCTGTC CCCGGACGAT ATTGAACAAT GGTTCACTGA AG -              #ACCCAGGT     60                                                                  - - CCAGATGAAG CTCCCAGAAT GCCAGAGGCT GCTCCCCCCG TGGCCCCTGC AC -             #CAGCAGCT    120                                                                  - - CCTACACCGG CGGCCCCTGC ACCAGCCCCC TCCTGGCCCC TGTCATCTTC TG -             #TCCCTTCC    180                                                                  - - CAGAAAACCT ACCAGGGCAG CTACGGTTTC CGTCTGGGCT TCTTGCATTC TG -             #GGACAGCC    240                                                                  - - AAGTCTGTGA CTTGCACGTA CTCCCCTGCC CTCAACAAGA TGTTTTGCCA AC -             #TGGCCAAG    300                                                                  - - ACCTGCCCTG TGCAGCTGTG GGTTGATTCC ACACCCCCGC CCGGCACCCG CG -             #TCCGCGCC    360                                                                  - - ATGGCCATCT ACAAGCAGTC ACAGCACATG ACGGAGGTTG TGAGGCGCTG CC -             #CCCACCAT    420                                                                  - - GAGCGCTGCT CAGATAGCGA TGGTCTGGCC CCTCCTCAGC ATCTTATCCG AG -             #TGGAAGGA    480                                                                  - - AATTTGCGTG TGGAGTATTT GGATGACAGA AACACTTTTC GACATAGTGT GG -             #TGGTGCCC    540                                                                  - - TATGAGCCGC CTGAGGTTGG CTCTGACTGT ACCACCATCC ACTACAACTA CA -             #TGTGTAAC    600                                                                  - - AGTTCCTGCA TGGGCGGCAT GAACCGGAGG CCCATCCTCA CCATCATCAC AC -             #TGGAAGAC    660                                                                  - - TCCAGTGGTA ATCTACTGGG ACGGAACAGC TTTGAGGTGC ATGTTTGTGC CT -             #GTCCTGGG    720                                                                  - - AGAGACCGGC GCACAGAGGA AGAGAATCTC CGCAAGAAAG GGGAGCCTCA CC -             #ACGAGCTG    780                                                                  - - CCCCCAGGGA GCACTAAGCG AGCACTGCCC AACAACACCA GCTCCTCTCC CC -             #AGCCAAAG    840                                                                  - - AAGAAACCAC TGGATGGAGA ATATTTCACC CTTCAGATCC GTGGGCGTGA GC -             #GCTTCGAG    900                                                                  - - ATGTTCCGAG AGCTGAATGA GGCCTTGGAA         - #                  - #               930                                                                      - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:23:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 1062 base - #pairs                                                 (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:23:                               - - ATGGATGATT TGATGCTGTC CCCGGACGAT ATTGAACAAT GGTTCACTGA AG -              #ACCCAGGT     60                                                                  - - CCAGATGAAG CTCCCAGAAT GCCAGAGGCT GCTCCCCCCG TGGCCCCTGC AC -             #CAGCAGCT    120                                                                  - - CCTACACCGG CGGCCCCTGC ACCAGCCCCC TCCTGGCCCC TGTCATCTTC TG -             #TCCCTTCC    180                                                                  - - CAGAAAACCT ACCAGGGCAG CTACGGTTTC CGTCTGGGCT TCTTGCATTC TG -             #GGACAGCC    240                                                                  - - AAGTCTGTGA CTTGCACGTA CTCCCCTGCC CTCAACAAGA TGTTTTGCCA AC -             #TGGCCAAG    300                                                                  - - ACCTGCCCTG TGCAGCTGTG GGTTGATTCC ACACCCCCGC CCGGCACCCG CG -             #TCCGCGCC    360                                                                  - - ATGGCCATCT ACAAGCAGTC ACAGCACATG ACGGAGGTTG TGAGGCGCTG CC -             #CCCACCAT    420                                                                  - - GAGCGCTGCT CAGATAGCGA TGGTCTGGCC CCTCCTCAGC ATCTTATCCG AG -             #TGGAAGGA    480                                                                  - - AATTTGCGTG TGGAGTATTT GGATGACAGA AACACTTTTC GACATAGTGT GG -             #TGGTGCCC    540                                                                  - - TATGAGCCGC CTGAGGTTGG CTCTGACTGT ACCACCATCC ACTACAACTA CA -             #TGTGTAAC    600                                                                  - - AGTTCCTGCA TGGGCGGCAT GAACCGGAGG CCCATCCTCA CCATCATCAC AC -             #TGGAAGAC    660                                                                  - - TCCAGTGGTA ATCTACTGGG ACGGAACAGC TTTGAGGTGC ATGTTTGTGC CT -             #GTCCTGGG    720                                                                  - - AGAGACCGGC GCACAGAGGA AGAGAATCTC CGCAAGAAAG GGGAGCCTCA CC -             #ACGAGCTG    780                                                                  - - CCCCCAGGGA GCACTAAGCG AGCACTGCCC AACAACACCA GCTCCTCTCC CC -             #AGCCAAAG    840                                                                  - - AAGAAACCAC TGGATGGAGA ATATTTCACC CTTCAGATCC GTGGGCGTGA GC -             #GCTTCGAG    900                                                                  - - ATGTTCCGAG AGCTGAATGA GGCCTTGGAA CTCAAGGATG CCCAGGCTGG GA -             #AGGAGCCA    960                                                                  - - GGGGGGAGCA GGGCTCACTC CAGCCACCTG AAGTCCAAAA AGGGTCAGTC TA -             #CCTCCCGC   1020                                                                  - - CATAAAAAAC TCATGTTCAA GACAGAAGGG CCTGACTCAG AC    - #                       - #1062                                                                      - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:24:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 528 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:24:                               - - ATGCCAGAGG CTGCTCCCCC CGTGGCCCCT GCACCAGCAG CTCCTACACC GG -              #CGGCCCCT     60                                                                  - - GCACCAGCCC CCTCCTGGCC CCTGTCATCT TCTGTCCCTT CCCAGAAAAC CT -             #ACCAGGGC    120                                                                  - - AGCTACGGTT TCCGTCTGGG CTTCTTGCAT TCTGGGACAG CCAAGTCTGT GA -             #CTTGCACG    180                                                                  - - TACTCCCCTG CCCTCAACAA GATGTTTTGC CAACTGGCCA AGACCTGCCC TG -             #TGCAGCTG    240                                                                  - - TGGGTTGATT CCACACCCCC GCCCGGCACC CGCGTCCGCG CCATGGCCAT CT -             #ACAAGCAG    300                                                                  - - TCACAGCACA TGACGGAGGT TGTGAGGCGC TGCCCCCACC ATGAGCGCTG CT -             #CAGATAGC    360                                                                  - - GATGGTCTGG CCCCTCCTCA GCATCTTATC CGAGTGGAAG GAAATTTGCG TG -             #TGGAGTAT    420                                                                  - - TTGGATGACA GAAACACTTT TCGACATAGT GTGGTGGTGC CCTATGAGCC GC -             #CTGAGGTT    480                                                                  - - GGCTCTGACT GTACCACCAT CCACTACAAC TACATGTGTA ACAGTTCC  - #                    528                                                                         - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:25:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 984 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:25:                               - - ATGCCAGAGG CTGCTCCCCC CGTGGCCCCT GCACCAGCAG CTCCTACACC GG -              #CGGCCCCT     60                                                                  - - GCACCAGCCC CCTCCTGGCC CCTGTCATCT TCTGTCCCTT CCCAGAAAAC CT -             #ACCAGGGC    120                                                                  - - AGCTACGGTT TCCGTCTGGG CTTCTTGCAT TCTGGGACAG CCAAGTCTGT GA -             #CTTGCACG    180                                                                  - - TACTCCCCTG CCCTCAACAA GATGTTTTGC CAACTGGCCA AGACCTGCCC TG -             #TGCAGCTG    240                                                                  - - TGGGTTGATT CCACACCCCC GCCCGGCACC CGCGTCCGCG CCATGGCCAT CT -             #ACAAGCAG    300                                                                  - - TCACAGCACA TGACGGAGGT TGTGAGGCGC TGCCCCCACC ATGAGCGCTG CT -             #CAGATAGC    360                                                                  - - GATGGTCTGG CCCCTCCTCA GCATCTTATC CGAGTGGAAG GAAATTTGCG TG -             #TGGAGTAT    420                                                                  - - TTGGATGACA GAAACACTTT TCGACATAGT GTGGTGGTGC CCTATGAGCC GC -             #CTGAGGTT    480                                                                  - - GGCTCTGACT GTACCACCAT CCACTACAAC TACATGTGTA ACAGTTCCTG CA -             #TGGGCGGC    540                                                                  - - ATGAACCGGA GGCCCATCCT CACCATCATC ACACTGGAAG ACTCCAGTGG TA -             #ATCTACTG    600                                                                  - - GGACGGAACA GCTTTGAGGT GCATGTTTGT GCCTGTCCTG GGAGAGACCG GC -             #GCACAGAG    660                                                                  - - GAAGAGAATC TCCGCAAGAA AGGGGAGCCT CACCACGAGC TGCCCCCAGG GA -             #GCACTAAG    720                                                                  - - CGAGCACTGC CCAACAACAC CAGCTCCTCT CCCCAGCCAA AGAAGAAACC AC -             #TGGATGGA    780                                                                  - - GAATATTTCA CCCTTCAGAT CCGTGGGCGT GAGCGCTTCG AGATGTTCCG AG -             #AGCTGAAT    840                                                                  - - GAGGCCTTGG AACTCAAGGA TGCCCAGGCT GGGAAGGAGC CAGGGGGGAG CA -             #GGGCTCAC    900                                                                  - - TCCAGCCACC TGAAGTCCAA AAAGGGTCAG TCTACCTCCC GCCATAAAAA AC -             #TCATGTTC    960                                                                  - - AAGACAGAAG GGCCTGACTC AGAC          - #                  - #                    984                                                                      - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:26:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 339 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:26:                               - - ATGTGTAACA GTTCCTGCAT GGGCGGCATG AACCGGAGGC CCATCCTCAC CA -              #TCATCACA     60                                                                  - - CTGGAAGACT CCAGTGGTAA TCTACTGGGA CGGAACAGCT TTGAGGTGCA TG -             #TTTGTGCC    120                                                                  - - TGTCCTGGGA GAGACCGGCG CACAGAGGAA GAGAATCTCC GCAAGAAAGG GG -             #AGCCTCAC    180                                                                  - - CACGAGCTGC CCCCAGGGAG CACTAAGCGA GCACTGCCCA ACAACACCAG CT -             #CCTCTCCC    240                                                                  - - CAGCCAAAGA AGAAACCACT GGATGGAGAA TATTTCACCC TTCAGATCCG TG -             #GGCGTGAG    300                                                                  - - CGCTTCGAGA TGTTCCGAGA GCTGAATGAG GCCTTGGAA      - #                       - #   339                                                                      - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:27:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 471 base - #pairs                                                  (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:27:                               - - ATGTGTAACA GTTCCTGCAT GGGCGGCATG AACCGGAGGC CCATCCTCAC CA -              #TCATCACA     60                                                                  - - CTGGAAGACT CCAGTGGTAA TCTACTGGGA CGGAACAGCT TTGAGGTGCA TG -             #TTTGTGCC    120                                                                  - - TGTCCTGGGA GAGACCGGCG CACAGAGGAA GAGAATCTCC GCAAGAAAGG GG -             #AGCCTCAC    180                                                                  - - CACGAGCTGC CCCCAGGGAG CACTAAGCGA GCACTGCCCA ACAACACCAG CT -             #CCTCTCCC    240                                                                  - - CAGCCAAAGA AGAAACCACT GGATGGAGAA TATTTCACCC TTCAGATCCG TG -             #GGCGTGAG    300                                                                  - - CGCTTCGAGA TGTTCCGAGA GCTGAATGAG GCCTTGGAAC TCAAGGATGC CC -             #AGGCTGGG    360                                                                  - - AAGGAGCCAG GGGGGAGCAG GGCTCACTCC AGCCACCTGA AGTCCAAAAA GG -             #GTCAGTCT    420                                                                  - - ACCTCCCGCC ATAAAAAACT CATGTTCAAG ACAGAAGGGC CTGACTCAGA C - #                 471                                                                         - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:28:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 48 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:28:                               - - TCCCAAGCAA TGGATGATTT GATGCTGTCC CCGGACGATA TTGAACAA  - #                     48                                                                          - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:29:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 75 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:29:                               - - AGCGTCGAGC CCCCTCTGAG TCAGGAAACA TTTTCAGACC TATGGAAACT AC -              #TTCCTGAA     60                                                                  - - AACAACGTTC TGTCC              - #                  - #                       - #    75                                                                   - -  - - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:30:                                     - -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 57 base - #pairs                                                   (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                  - -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                               - -    (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                  - -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:30:                               - - CACCTGAAGT CCAAAAAGGG TCAGTCTACC TCCCGCCATA AAAAACTCAT GT - #TCAAG             57                                                                       __________________________________________________________________________ 

We claim:
 1. A method of detecting p53-specific antibodies in body fluids comprising:I incubating a sample of body fluids suspected of containing p53-specific antibodies with support-bound p53 fragments consisting of binding regions for p53 specific antibodies and then either II(a) reacting the incubated sample from Step I with labeled antibodies directed against the p53-specific antibodies, or II(b) reacting the incubated sample from Step I with unlabeled antibodies directed against the p53-specific antibodies followed by reacting with labeled antibodies directed against the unlabeled antibodies, wherein the labeled antibodies are non-radioactive; wherein the binding of labeled antibodies indicates the presence of p53-specific antibodies and wherein said p53 fragments are selected from the group consisting of amino acids 237-349 (SEQ ID NO: 16), 237-393 (SEQ ID NO: 17), 9-33 (SEQ ID NO: 18), 37-52 (SEQ ID NO: 19), and 368-386 (SEQ ID NO: 20) of p53.
 2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the body fluids are selected from the group consisting of serum, lymph, saliva, urine and fluids obtained from solid tissue and tumors.
 3. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the p53 fragments are obtained by expression of a cDNA sequence.
 4. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the support of the support-bound p53 fragments is selected from the group consisting of microtiter plates, tubes, micropellets, and slides.
 5. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said labeled antibodies are labelled with an enzyme.
 6. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said labeled antibodies are labelled with a fluorescent dye.
 7. A kit containing:I.A). support-bound p53 fragments consisting of binding regions for p53-specific antibodies wherein said fragments are selected from the group consisting of amino acids 237-349 (SEQ ID NO: 16), 237-393 (SEQ ID NO: 17), 9-33 (SEQ ID NO: 18), 37-52 (SEQ ID NO: 19), and 368-386 (SEQ ID NO: 20) of p53, I.B). either labeled antibodies directed against said p53-specific antibodies or unlabeled antibodies directed against said p53-specific antibodies plus labeled antibodies directed against said unlabeled antibodies, I.C). conventional buffers for washing and I.D). optionally a substrate with which said labeled antibodies react.
 8. A p53 fragment consisting of a binding region for p53-specific antibodies wherein said fragment is selected from the group consisting of amino acids 237-349 (SEQ ID NO:16), 237-393 (SEQ ID NO:17), 9-33 (SEQ ID NO:18), 37-52 (SEQ ID NO:19) and 368-386 (SEQ ID NO:20) of p53.
 9. An isolated nucleic acid consisting of a DNA encoding a p53 fragment as defined in claim
 8. 